CULLMAN —
United Way of Cullman County unveiled its goal for the new fund-raising campaign Tuesday, an ambitious but necessary figure of $425,000.
The goal is not unreasonable for the Cullman area, which has proven its generosity and commitment to caring many times in recent years.
Important to keep in mind as the campaign officially opens is that United Way’s intent goes far beyond meeting a financial figure each year. Money is simply the necessary ingredient to ensure that agencies that serve vital needs in our community get enough funding to operate.
Keynote speaker at Tuesday’s kickoff luncheon, Steve Marshall, the district attorney of Marshall County, shared some interesting thoughts about his experiences chairing similar campaigns in our neighboring county.
Marshall recounted stories about real people who found relief from domestic abuse and rebuilt their lives. He told about a girl who had suffered abuse from her father, but through assistance from a United Way agency found safety and guidance to move forward.
She now tells audiences that she’s not a victim, but a survivor and is preparing the rest of her life to help others.
In other words, money matters because it funds agencies that offer real-life relief and guidance for people in our communities. But what a campaign for United Way ultimately stresses is that programs and agencies that get people restarted in life exist and have successful track records.
Another good point about agencies under United Way, such as Red Cross, Cullman Caring for Kids and many others, are not in existence as some type of longterm government agency. These agencies offer assistance by professionals who are able to guide people from desperate situations to new beginnings.
Think about the consequences of living in a community without such caring assistance. Our character is defined by how ably we provide assistance to those in need in our community.
With $425,000 set as this year’s goal, Cullman County can meet a lot of needs and open doors for many people looking for a new beginning.
Editorials
Real lives in our community
- Editorials
-
-
Taking the lead in education
The once-heralded ‘No Child Left Behind” education initiative from the federal level has just about run out of gas.
-
Moving into the future
Hundreds of local high school seniors are accepting their diplomas and preparing to turn the page in the next chapter of their lives.
-
Editorial: Seizure of AP phone records insult to independent press
This amounts to spying on an American news organization -- common practice in dictatorships but scary conduct in a democratic system that prizes the public value of an independent watchdog press.
-
EDITORIAL: The IRS' Turn to Answer Questions
Washington is now sinking its teeth into a real scandal: the Internal Revenue Service using ideological criteria to choose the targets of its attention.
-
Editorial: The house of death
The grisly details emerging from the murder trial of a Philadelphia abortion doctor place a glaring spotlight on a national disgrace.
-
Editorial: Murder, insanity and guns
James Holmes, the accused movie theater shooter in Colorado, would like for the public to believe he killed a dozen people because he was insane.
-
Lasting partnerships
Economic development officials have long noted the importance of expansions by existing industries and businesses in a community to lead growth.
-
COMMENTARY: Why does young adult fiction keep giving its heroines makeovers?
Over at This Ain't Living, s.e. smith (who, full disclosure, has guest-blogged for me at ThinkProgress) has an excellent post about one of the most pernicious trends in young adult fiction.
-
A spirit for moving forward
This weekend marked the two-year anniversary of a deadly day of tornadoes that streaked across Alabama, claiming lives and property and changing the landscape of many communities.
-
Faith and bombs
The investigation of the Boston Marathon bombing is pointing to the all-too-familiar theme of religious faith playing a major role in violence.
- More Editorials Headlines
-
Taking the lead in education
Britain Attack Believed Linked to Radical Islam
Raw: Kevin Durant Tours Moore After $1M Pledge
Weiner Launches Bid to Become NYC Mayor
Okla. Teens Get Video of Deadly Tornado Overhead
Man Shot While Questioned in Boston Probe
School Storm Protection Spotty in Tornado Zones
9-year-old Tornado Victim Loved Family, Singing
Moore Native Toby Keith Tours Tornado Damage
Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage
Okla. City Mayor: Up to 13K Homes Hit by Tornado
Raw: Aftermath of Deadly Attack in London
Paperless Scanner, Vision of the Future
Florida FBI Shooting Has Boston Bombing Links
Garcetti Elected Los Angeles Mayor Over Greuel
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
IRS Official Pleads 5th Amendment
Lawyer: Feds Investigating Susan Powell Case
